NFC Contract Details: Hatcher, Jennings, Cards
Jason Hatcher told reporters today that the Redskins blew away the competition with their pitch and offer to him, and Tom Pelissero of USA Today brings us the specifics of Hatcher’s deal (via Twitter). The four-year, $27.5MM deal includes $10.5MM in guaranteed money, made up of a $9MM signing bonus and a $1.5MM guaranteed base salary in 2014.
Here are more details on contracts signed for players by NFC teams this week:
- While Rashad Jennings‘ four-year deal with the Giants can apparently max out around $14MM, it only has a base value of $10MM, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
- Matt Shaughnessy‘s two-year contract with the Cardinals includes a $1.4MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Pelissero tweets that there’s a “trigger” of sorts including in the deal, in the form of a $500K roster bonus due next March.
- Jonathan Dwyer‘s one-year deal with the Cardinals is a minimum salary benefit contract. Wilson tweets that the base salary of $730K is non-guaranteed, while Dwyer also got a $65K signing bonus.
- Meanwhile, another Cardinals signee, Ted Larsen, gets two years and $2.6MM, with a $470K, tweets Pelissero. The deal also features per-game roster bonuses and additional escalators, as Pelissero explains.
- The Vikings‘ one-year pact with Derek Cox doesn’t include any guarantees, according to Pelissero (via Twitter). It features a $730K base salary, a $50K workout bonus, and $220K in potential playing time incentives, meaning it can max out at $1MM.
- Domenik Hixon‘s one-year contract with the Bears is worth the minimum salary ($730K), but the receiver can earn up to $100K in roster bonus money, tweets Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Dickerson adds (via Twitter) that M.D. Jennings has a similar deal, though the safety’s minimum salary is $645K.
- Ramon Humber received a minimum salary benefit deal from the Saints, with a $65K signing bonus and $300K in overall guaranteed money, tweets Wilson.
Bengals Claim Dontay Moch Off Waivers
FRIDAY, 3:44pm: The Bengals have claimed Moch off waivers from the Cardinals, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via Twitter).
THURSDAY, 4:21pm: The Cardinals have released Dontay Moch, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter). The defensive lineman saw time in just five games across his three seasons in Arizona.
Moch, 26 in July, was a third round pick of the Bengals in the 2011 draft. While he impressed scouts during his time at the University of Nevada, he hasn’t made a major impact at the professional level in his young NFL career. Moch ran an eye-popping 4.44 sec 40-yard dash at the 2011 NFL Combine, ranking best among all front seven players at the event.
Contract Details: Pettigrew, Ginn, Clemens
Brandon Pettigrew agreed to a new four-year contract with the Lions today, and while $8MM of the $16MM total is guaranteed, $2.8MM of that amount, 2015’s base salary, is guaranteed for injury only, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Pelissero adds that the rest of the guarantee comes from a $4MM signing bonus and a $1.2MM base salary for 2014 (Twitter links). Here are several more details on recent deals:
- The three-year contract Ted Ginn Jr. agreed to with the Cardinals includes a $2.25MM signing bonus and $1.5MM in annual incentives, says Pelissero (via Twitter). Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com breaks it down in chart form.
- Kellen Clemens‘ two-year, $3MM pact with the Chargers includes a $645K signing bonus and a $250K roster bonus due on the third day of the 2015 league year, tweets Pelissero.
- The Redskins‘ one-year, $2MM deal with Darryl Sharpton can be worth up to $2MM. It’s made up of an $820K signing bonus, a $730K non-guaranteed base salary, $200K in per-game roster bonuses, and $250K in playing-time incentives, according to Pelissero (via Twitter).
Ted Ginn, Cardinals Agree To Three-Year Deal
9:34pm: Ginn’s three year deal will be worth at least $9.75MM with a maximum of $14.25MM, and includes $5.2MM in guaranteed money, reports Kent Somers of AZ Central Sports (via Twitter).
6:20pm: Ginn was “surprised” that the Panthers didn’t try harder to retain the veteran receiver, reports Urban (via Twitter).
5:19pm: Ginn’s deal with the Cards is worth $9.75MM for three years, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
4:38pm: The Cardinals have agreed to terms with receiver and return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. on a three-year deal, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter).
Ginn, 28, was an all-purpose threat for the Panthers in his first and only year in Carolina, with 36 catches, 26 punt returns, 25 kickoff returns, and even four carries. He enjoyed the most success as a receiver, recording 556 receiving yards and five TDs while catching balls from Cam Newton.
Prior to agreeing to sign with the Cards, Ginn drew plenty of interest from other suitors. The Giants were reportedly eyeing him and the Bucs had him in for a visit, while newly-signed Brown Donte Whitner urged Cleveland management to consider signing him.
FA Rumors: Rice, Sanders, Thurmond, Melton
The latest free agent rumors..
- The 49ers will host Julian Edelman on Friday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). The club is also interested in Hakeem Nicks.
- Jermichael Finley left his meeting with the Seahawks without a contract, sources tell Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).
- The Seahawks are now interested in re-signing Sidney Rice, who was a salary cap casualty earlier in the offseason, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
- The Jets still have interest in Emmanuel Sanders, but they had to reschedule his visit due to conflicts, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. He’ll pay the Chiefs a visit tomorrow, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. The Ravens have yet to get involved, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets.
- Cornerback Walter Thurmond told his fans via Twitter that he had a great meeting with the Jaguars and noted that the club is “headed in the right direction.” Thurmond’s next stop is San Francisco.
- Henry Melton plans to spend the rest of the evening in Minnesota with the Vikings, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.
- Ryan Clark tweeted to Richard Sherman to let him know his visit with the Redskins went well. Now he says that “the money guys have to work.”
- The Panthers aren’t showing interest in Hakeem Nicks yet, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. It should be noted that this report came out before Carolina officially said goodbye to Steve Smith. Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported this evening that the Panthers indeed have interest.
- Jets free agent guard Vlad Ducasse will visit the Bengals before coming to the Vikings, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN (on Twitter).
- The Cardinals are still negotiating with Ben Dogra, the agent for Antonio Cromartie, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. This one isn’t as easy as some other deals, Somers adds.
- The Steelers are bringing Chargers free agent nose tackle Cam Thomas for a visit on Friday, tweets Alan Robinson, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. If he’s put in the middle, San Diego can move Steve McLendon over to defensive end.
FA Rumors: Clark, Browner, Finnegan
Ryan Clark‘s visit with the Redskins went well, but there’s no deal yet, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. However, Washington is still talking with the former Steelers safety. More from around the league..
- The Saints are among teams looking at cornerback Brandon Browner, according to ESPN’s John Clayton (via Mike Triplett’s Twitter). The recently reinstated cornerback is also reportedly visiting with the Redskins and Patriots.
- Former Rams and Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan will visit with the Dolphins tomorrow, tweets Albert Breer of NFL Network.
- Bears GM Phil Emery planned to speak with Henry Melton‘s agent after the defensive end met with teams and gauged his market, tweets Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. However, the clock is ticking for Chicago as their cap room is dwindling.
- The Redskins have had talks with Reed Doughty, but it doesn’t sound like anything is imminent, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. It’s still a “work in progress,” a source tells Jones.
- 49ers free agent running back Anthony Dixon tweets that he’s on his way to Buffalo to visit the Bills.
- It sounds like Antonio Cromartie‘s meeting with the Cardinals was more of a feeling out than anything, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
- The door isn’t shut on Alex Mack and the Colts, but the odds have gone down drastically, tweets Mike Wells of ESPN.
FA Rumors: Melton, Walker, Cromartie
Unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton, who is visiting with the Vikings on Thursday, is the center of a lawsuit from a bar altercation where he is alleged to have bitten the restaurant owner, writes Master Tesfatsion of the Star-Tribune. That could be a sticking point for the Vikings, who dealt with four player arrests in 2013. The latest free agent rumors from around the NFL…
- Vance Walker is visiting with the Chiefs today, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN. The defensive tackle also has a visit lined up with the Packers, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.
- Former Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie is visiting with the Cardinals today, a source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).
- Quarterback Shaun Hill could still return to the Lions, a source tells Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. The Buccaneers seemed like a real option for Hill until they inked Josh McCown this week.
- Akeem Jordan‘s visit with the Titans has been moved up from Monday to Friday, says Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, adding that the Redskins would like to bring in the linebacker for a visit if he doesn’t sign with Tennessee (Twitter links).
- Tight end Owen Daniels is set to visit with the Redskins, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).
- Return specialist Ted Ginn is visiting the Cardinals, tweets P. Schrager of FOXSports.com.
Extra Points: Cousins, Hood, Graham, Saffold
A Kirk Cousins trade remains unlikely for the Redskins, write Mike Jones and Mark Maske of the Washington Post. There was talk that Washington would be open to moving the quarterback since he would like to start and he is stuck behind Robert Griffin III on the depth chart. For his part, Cousins has said that he will be professional and won’t demand a trade.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, defensive lineman Ziggy Hood received interest from the Redskins, Raiders, and Chiefs, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Meanwhile, Chris Clemons said the Raiders and Falcons reached out to him before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, according to O’Halloran (via Twitter).
- Cornerback Corey Graham, who signed with the Bills, told reporters today that he was preparing to go to dinner with the Redskins when he got the call from his agent about Buffalo’s offer (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR550).
- Wide receiver Jacoby Jones had a similar story to Graham, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun details in a pair of tweets. Jones says he was in New York, about to have dinner with the Giants, when he realized he wanted to stay with the Ravens and headed for the airport instead.
- Safety Mike Mitchell is extremely happy to be with the Steelers and tells reporters, including Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter) that he wanted to come to Pittsburgh more than the club wanted him to be there.
- As expected, the Cardinals have paid Daryl Washington his option bonus, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. There was some talk that they wouldn’t pay out his bonus due to legal issues.
- Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle provides a look at the Raiders‘ perspective on why their deal with Rodger Saffold fell apart yesterday.
- Wide receiver prospect Marqise Lee is drawing significant interest from the Jets and had a private meeting with the team, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
- Georgia tech outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, a projected second- or third-round pick tells Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (Twitter links) that six teams have shown strong interest in him. Those clubs are the Ravens, Eagles, Titans, Redskins, Chargers, and Steelers.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Cardinals Sign Dwyer, Larsen, Benard
The Cardinals made a couple of signings of Wednesday evening, inking running back Jonathan Dwyer to a one-year deal and offensive lineman Ted Larsen to a two-year deal. The team also re-signed linebacker Marcus Benard to a one-year deal. Darren Urban of azcardinals.com reported all of the signings (via Twitter).
The Cardinals add depth at running back with Dwyer after Rashard Mendenhall announced his retirement earlier this week. The 24-year-old had his best year in 2012 with the Steelers, running for 623 yards and two scores while also catching 18 balls for 106 yards. The former sixth-rounder was cut prior to the first game in 2013, but re-signed after LaRod Stephens-Howling went down with an injury. He went on to run for 197 yards on 49 carries. Dwyers reunites with Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, who was Dwyer’s offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh from 2010-2011. Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review said the Steelers had no interest in bringing Dwyer back (via Twitter).
Larsen, 26, was drafted in the sixth-round by the Patriots in 2010. He played with the team as a guard during the preseason, but was waived by the team in September. The Buccaneers claimed the rookie, who went on to play 60 games for the team over four years. Larsen has played both guard and center during his career.
After not playing during the 2012 season, Benard caught on with the Cardinals last year. He appeared in 12 games with the team, compiling 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The 28-year-old had his best season with the Browns in 2010, when he had 7.5 sacks.
Cardinals To Re-Sign Matt Shaughnessy
8:04pm: Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 has details on the contract (via Twitter): the deal is worth $4.4MM over two years with another $2.2MM in incentives.
6:23pm: The Cardinals and Matt Shaughnessy have agreed to terms on a two-year deal, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). The new agreement will keep the free agent linebacker in Arizona after he drew some interest from the Patriots.
After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Raiders, Shaughnessy signed in Arizona last season and started 12 games for the club, accumulating 36 tackles, three sacks, and three fumble recoveries. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Shaughnessy performed well against the run, but was only the league’s 34th-best 3-4 outside linebacker out of 42 qualified players.
While the Cardinals have agreed to contracts with a few players since free agency began, including offensive tackle Jared Veldheer, Shaughnessy is the first player the team has brought back or added to a linebacker corps that will be without Karlos Dansby in 2014.